Inside The Lines
Inside The Lines
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
MISSOURI VALLEY TOURNAMENT
(at St. Louis, Mo.)
Bradley (17-14, 16-12-1 ATS) vs. Creighton (20-9, 14-11 ATS)
Creighton (10-8, 9-9 ATS in conference) closed the regular-season on a 6-3 run, including Saturday?s thrilling 111-110 double-overtime victory over Bradley. However, the Bluejays failed to cash as a 7?-point home favorite, dropping to 5-7 ATS in their last 12.
Bradley (9-9, 12-6 ATS in conference) followed up a 9-2 run by losing its final two regular-season contests. However, with Saturday?s spread-cover at Creighton, the Braves finished on a 12-3 ATS roll after starting conference play 0-5 ATS.
In addition to Saturday?s meeting, these teams faced each other on Feb. 16 at Bradley, and the Braves rolled to an 87-59 win as a two-point home chalk. The schools have alternated SU wins and losses in the last eight meetings, and the favorite and underdog have alternated spread-covers in the last eight. But Bradley is 5-2 ATS in the last seven, and the chalk is still 13-6-1 ATS in the past 20 clashes.
The Braves are on ATS streaks of 6-0 on Fridays and 6-1 in neutral-site games. Meanwhile, Creighton is 4-1 ATS in its last five on Friday and 5-1 ATS in its last six at neutral sites.
The over is on streaks of 19-8-1 for Creighton overall (10-5-1 last 16), 8-0 for Bradley overall, 10-4-1 for Bradley on the road this season and 7-2-2 in this rivalry (3-0 in the last three).
ATS ADVANTAGE: BRADLEY and OVER
Northern Iowa (17-13, 14-13 ATS) vs. Southern Illinois (17-13, 15-14-1 ATS)
Southern Illinois (11-7, 10-7-1 ATS in conference) had a five-game winning streak snapped in Saturday?s 57-49 home loss to Illinois State as a six-point home chalk, ending a 4-0-1 ATS roll. The Salukis went 4-2 ATS (3-3 SU) in their final six Missouri Valley games on the highway.
Northern Iowa (9-9, 10-8 ATS in conference) finished with consecutive wins over Indiana State on Feb. 27 (73-58 as a 5?-point home chalk) and Evansville on Saturday (71-68 as a 2?-point road favorite). The two-game run follows a 1-5 slump (0-6 ATS).
These teams have split their regular-season series? the last two years. This season, Northern Iowa won 68-63 as a two-point favorite on Feb. 2, and the Salukis rolled 67-47 as an eight-point chalk 18 days late. The Panthers are 8-3-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings, but the last time they met in the Missouri Valley tournament in 2006, Southern Illinois pulled off a 55-46 upset in overtime as a two-point underdog.
Southern Illinois is on pointspread streaks of 4-0-1 after an ATS setback, 5-1 on Fridays and 5-1 at neutral sites. Meanwhile, the Panthers are 1-4 ATS in their last five neutral contests, but 5-1 ATS in their last six after a spread-cover.
The over was 10-5 in the Salukis? final 15 conference games and 11-3-1 in Northern Iowa?s last 14 contests. However, the under is 4-2 in the last six series clashes between these schools (1-1 this year). Also, the under is on streaks of 10-1 for Northern Iowa at 11 neutral-site games, 20-8 for Southern Illinois? at neutral venues, 5-0 for Northern Iowa on Fridays and 4-0 for Southern Illinois on Fridays.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
NBA
Utah (40-22, 33-29 ATS) at Phoenix (40-21, 27-32-2 ATS)
The Jazz travel to the Arizona desert hoping to take advantage of the Suns? recent struggles inside the U.S. Airways Center in this key Western Conference matchup.
Phoenix has dropped three of four in front of the home fans and is 2-7-1 ATS in the last 10, including Saturday?s embarrassing 119-114 loss to the Sixers as 9?-point favorites. The Suns followed that defeat with a four-point win at Portland on Tuesday, then came back on Wednesday in Denver and fell to the Nuggets 126-113 as a seven-point underdog.
The Suns are 4-6 SU (5-5 ATS) in their last 10 overall, and their defense has been nonexistent lately, surrendering 114 points a game on 50 percent shooting in their last five.
Utah has rattled off three consecutive SU and ATS wins, routing Minnesota at home Wednesday 105-76, covering the 14?-point spread. The Jazz have won 22 of their last 27 overall (18-9 ATS).
These teams have split a pair this season with the home team getting the win each time. Phoenix prevailed 103-98 on Dec. 12 but came up short as 7?-point favorites, while Utah dominated the Suns in Salt Lake City on Jan. 10, rolling 108-86 and easily cashing as a 7?-point chalk. The Jazz have won five of the last seven in this series, and they?re 7-3 ATS in the last 10.
Jerry Sloan?s squad is just 1-3 SU and ATS in its last four on the highway, but the one victory came in its most recent road game at Memphis, a 113-92 rout as a 9?-point favorite. For the season, the Jazz are just 13-19 SU and ATS as a visitor.
The over is on runs of 18-5 for Utah against the Pacific Division, 8-2 for the Suns overall and 6-2 with the Suns as a favorite. However, the under is 6-2-1 in the last nine series clashes and 8-3 in Phoenix?s last 11 against the Northwest Division.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UTAH
San Antonio (43-17, 28-30-2 ATS) at Denver (36-24, 30-30 ATS)
The Spurs try to extend their 11-game winning streak when they visit the Pepsi Center in Denver to take on the Nuggets.
San Antonio improved to 15-1 in its last 16 overall (9-6-1 ATS) with Thursday?s 108-97 home win over the Pacers, falling just shy as a 13-point favorite. On the road the Spurs have won five straight (3-2 ATS) and nine of their last 10 (6-4 ATS).
Denver has won three of its last four, including Wednesday?s 126-113 rout of the Suns as seven-point home favorites. George Karl?s team is 18-13 ATS in the Mile High City this year, including 10-4 ATS in the last 14.
The Nuggets snapped a five-game SU and ATS losing streak to the Spurs back on Jan. 3, scoring an 80-77 home win as 2?-point favorites. It was just the second time Denver cashed at home in its last eight against San Antonio, which played the January game without All-Star Manu Ginobili.
The favorite has cashed in 22 of the last 30 series battles.
San Antonio sports negative ATS trends of 4-9 when playing on back-to-back nights, 1-4 as an underdog, 2-8 as a road underdog and 0-5 as an underdog of less than five points. On the bright side, the Spurs 35-16-1 ATS in their last 52 against Northwest Division foes.
Denver is 7-2 ATS in its last nine Friday night tip-offs, but 4-11 ATS in its last 15 against the Southwest Division and 1-4 when playing on one day of rest.
The under is 23-5-1 in the last 29 meetings in this rivalry, including 10-0 in the last 10 overall and 4-0 in the last four in Denver. Also, the under is on streaks of 15-6 for the Spurs on the road, 7-1 when the Spurs are an underdog and 5-0 for the Spurs on back-to-back nights. Conversely, the over is 6-2 in Denver?s last eight overall and 7-1 in its last eight as a favorite.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SAN ANTONIO and UNDER
